MP flays govt over statue vandalisation in Amritsar

Bhim Army founder and MP Chandershekhar Azad on Saturday visited Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue that was vandalised by a youth in Heritage Street here on Republic Day. Terming the incident as gross negligence on part of the state government, he said the official machinery should ensure safety of all memorials in the state so that no such incident would occur in future. He said the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated under the present government.

He said the government should invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against the man who vandalised the statue of Dr Ambedkar and set the stone carved replica of Constitution on fire. The incident led to widespread condemnation by political leaders, besides triggering protests in parts of the state.

A six-member panel formed by the BJP to probe the incident would arrive here on Sunday. BJP district president Harwinder Sandhu said the panel included former UP Police DGP and Rajya Sabha member Brij Lal, SC Morcha national president Lal Singh, and former minister Som Parkash.